Chromatic light signal system



NOV. 27; 1923,

D. J. M CARTHY CHROMATIC LIGHT SIGNAL SYSTEM Filed Oct. 11. 1920Patented Nov. 27, 1923.

entra n sTArss 1,475,109 PATENT OFFICE;

namnr. a. MoOABTEY, or stem, rumors. assronoa 'ro onrcsco' mnwnr SIG-HALaim surrnx COMPANY, A. conroaa'rron or rumors. r

OHEOHATIO LIGHT SIGNAL SYSTEM.

Application filed October 11, 1920. Serial Ho. 416,047.

To all wlwm it mm concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL J. MoCan'rHY, acitizen of the United States,residing at Elgin, in the county'of Kane and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in ChromaticLight signalSystems, of which the following a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in chromatic light signalsystems.

One of the objects of the resent invention i to increase thereliability, effective ness and integrity of such systems and to sim lifand cheapen the-cost of production evices of this character, wherein onelens or lens combination serves for a lurality of characteristicallydifierent in ma tions, retainin the advanta es and benefits resultin romthe use 0 the more expensive an involved apparatus.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means by use ofwhich false reflected signals can not be indicated from a signal lamp,lens or reflector not actively in the signalling condition. In separateunit signal systems, as heretofore used, false signals are frequentlyexhibited when the light re ,s from a powerful headlight of an approacing locomotive is projected into 0them. This is due to the reflection ofthe rays from the bulb of the incandescent lamp of the signal unit,notwithstanding thefact that .the lamp'thereof may, at the time, betie-energized or not alight. Parallel re. s

from the head light entering the lens will be concentrated at theexposed focal point and be reflected from the surface of the glass ofthe bulb. These rays leave the unit, or lens system of the signal, andro- 40 duce the same visual efiect as if they ad originated at the focalpoint of the signal j light and to an observer they show the same sheetthat the energized lamp of the signal produces. I

Another object of the invention is to overcome this glaring deficiencyand dangerous feature of signal systems by shutting 011' or shieldingthe inactive lamps of the safet and caution signals from an observer, y

the interposition of an o aque screen when the lamps are not active yenergized. If a false danger signal be sent from the danger lens and ampit is not a matter of such a great importance. 1

Another o ec is the provision of automatic means for interposing anopaque screen between the safety lamp, the caution lamp and an observer,when said lamps are de-en'er ized, exposing only the danger lamp behindthe lens combination.

Another object is the provision of a reflector, having an opaque backingforming a screen, one for the safety lamp and one .for the caution lamp,and means to move each reflector into its reflecting osition, betweenits lamp and the lens com ination, by the same electric current thatlights the energized lamp and which moves out of its reflecting positionand interposes the screen before the associated lamp by effect ofgravity, when its lamp is (lo-energized or extinguished.

Other, further and more specific objects of the invention will becomereadily appar-- T' ent to persons skilled in the art, from a 1Bconsideration of the following descri tion, when taken in conjunctionwlth the drawings, wherein Figs. 1, 2 and.3 are diagrammatic viewsshowing the positions of the parts under the various conditions ofoperation.

In Fig. 1 the parts are in position to project thru a common lens agreen light indicative of clear or safety.

In Fig. 2 the parts are in position to roject thru the same lens a redlight in icetive of danger. The parts in this view show the positionswhich they assume, by effect of gravity, when the caution and safetylamps are de-energized from any cause.

Fig. 3 shows the positions of the when the yellow or caution light isprojected thru the lens.

The reflector shown in Fig. 1 completely cuts oil the light from-lamp 6at R and it interposes an opaque shield between the re flector of thecaution lamp and lamp 7 so that neither the lamps R nor Y can, under anycircumstances of operation, project their lights thru the lens 5, whilethe reflector of the safety lamp is in the position shown.

The same condition of operation is shown in Fig. 3 in which thereflector designed to reflect the yellow light thru the lens is inreflecting osition.

In this iagrammatic arrangement, chosen to exemplify the invention, thelens comb nation 5 may be a single lens or a com ine 1" arts mg in anyof the block signal systems.

tidn of lenses having a focal point at 6. A side 1i ht 7, which forexample may be green, in icative of the fact that the tracks are clear,or a safety si al, is arranged with res ct to its particu ar reflectorto pass lig t thru the lens 5 at suitable times, while the reflector oflight 8, which may be of yellow cast, is arranged in the same manner andfor the same purpose on the opposite side of the light proceeding fromthe lam R.

Reflector 9 is, preferably, in the form of a mirror, having a backing- 9which is opaque, the reflecting and screening structure being hinged at10 and controlled by the solenoid 11, which is in series with the lamp7.

A counterweight 12 normally holds the reflecting mirror 9 in positionshown in Figs. 2 and 3 and out of the path of the light proceeding fromthe lamp 6 or red light R.

13 is a mirror reflector having an opaque back 13 and in every respectis a duplicate of the mirror structure 9. It is controlled by thesolenoid 14 which is in series with the lamp 8. The mirror is pivoted asat 15 and is provided with a short arm 16 wlnch is pivoted at 18 to therod 19.

Instead of the lamps 6, 7 and 8 being of different colors, they may beeach provlded with a colored glass plate, such as a green plate 20, ared plate 21 and a yellow plate 22. The same apparatus is shown in Figs.1, 2 and 3 with the parts in somewhat relatively different positions foraccomplishing the various results, desired to be effected by the use ofthe signal system.

It is manifest that the signal system can be controlled by any of thewell known auxiliary means or methods now emplo i pld e system hereindisclosed shows that which is commonly known as the polarized system inwhich a polarized relay is employed for reversing direction of currentthru part of the conducting apparatus. The track circuit C is energizedby the battery B thru the contacts of the track relay 25 and the trackcircuit C is energized by the battery B.

26 is a olarized relay controlled from the track circuit C and when thetrain T enters track section (1 the relay armature moves to the positionin Fig 2, which position causes current to flow from the battery 27 tothe red lamp R, thus giving the red indication or danger signal by thelight therefrom passing directly thru the lens 5. When the train Tleaves the track section C and enters the track section C, the relay 25is shunted so that its contacts cause a reversal of current in the tracksection C from the battery B, which causes the relay 26 to assume theposition shown in Fig. 3 and allows the energizing of the lamp 8 at Yand the coil 1.4. This gives the caution or tyellow indication becausethe solenoid 14 eing thus energized by the same current that lights thelamp 8 the core 14 of the solenoid is attracted into the solenoid, asmore clearly shown in Fig. 3 and the reflecting mirror 13 is raised intoposition shown. Therefore the light from the lamp 8 is projected againstthe surface of the mirror and from thence reflected thru the lens 5.When the mirrors are in oblique positions the. red light is screenedfrom the lens.

When the train T passes out of the track section C relay 25 is againenergized, its contacts causing reversal of the current in the tracksection 0, which causes the relay 26 to assume a position to energizethe lamp 7, or the green lamp, and the coil 11, thus giving a green or'clear indication in the same manner.

It will now be apparent that should any one of the lamps, lamp 7 or lam8, burn out or the circuit be opened by other cause, the respectivereflector, operated by the coil connected in series therewith. will notbe thrown across the beam of light from the red lamp 6 and therefore thefrom the red lamp will not be 0 ured.

While I have herein shown a single embodiment of my invention, for thepurpose of clear disclosure, it will be manifest, to persons skilled inthe art, that many changes may be made in the general arrangement andconfiguration of the parts within the sciipe of the appended claims.

aving described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:-

1. In a railway signal system the combination of a plurality of fixedsources of different colored lights; an opaque reflector structure,normally in the path of light from one source of light and remotelycontrolled means to vmove the reflecting structure into position toreflect light from said source and shut ofl" light from the othersources.

2. In a railway signal system the combination of a plurality of sourcesof different colored lights; a lens thru which light ath of light I isdirectly projected from one source of light; an opaque reflectorstructure normally in the direct path of light from another source oflight and remotely controlled means to move the reflector structure toposition to reflect li ht thru the lens from the second mentione sourceof light and to shut off light of the first source of light from thelens.

3. In a railwa signal system the combination of a red ight, indicativeof dan er, and a green light indicative of safety; a ens thru which thelight from both sources is alternately projected; an opaque reflectorstructure normally maintained out of the path of-the light, of thedanger 1i ht, and m the path of light of safety light y effect ofgravity, and remotely controlled means to move said structure into thepath of light of the danger light and into position to re- {leclttlight, thru the lens, from the safety 4. In a railway signal system thecombination of a red light, indicative of danger; a green li htindicative of safety, and a yellow light in icative of caution; a ensthru which the red light directly projects; reflecting means onenormally in the path of the green liglht and one normally in the path ofthe e low light to shut off light therefrom seectivel and remotelycontrolled means one for eac light reflecting means to move said lightreflectin means to reflect light from the green lig t or from the yellowlight, thru said lens and to shut ofl light from the red 1i ht.

5. n arailway signal system, a red light indicative of danger; a lens inthe path of the light therefrom; an opaque reflector on each side ofsaid path of light, normally maintained out of said path by effect ofgravity; a green side light, normally behind one reflector and a yellowside light behind the other reflector and a means, one for eachreflector, to alternatively move the respective reflector into the pathof light from the red li ht and into position to reflect li ht thru t elens from one of said side lig ts.

6. In a railway signal system a lens; a red light rojecting a path of liht directly thru t e lens; a plurality of reflecting mirrors, eachmirror having an opa ue backin and each pivoted to one side 0 said patli of light held out of said path by effect of gravity; a side lightnormally behind each mirror and means, one for each mirror to move itsassociated mirror across said ath of li ht and into the field of itsassociated side ight to project li ht therefrom thru said lens and toshut o the light from the red 1i ht.

7. n a railway signal system, a lens; a

, red light projecting a path of light thru the lens; two spaced apartreflectors, one on each side of said path of light, held out of the pathby effect of gravity; a solenoid for each reflector, when energized tomove the respective reflector across said light path an a source oflight for each reflector arranged, with respect to its reflector, tocause the latter to reflect light thru the lens from its moved position.

8. In a railway signal system a lens; a fixed red light arranged toproject its rays directly thru the lens; a plura ity of fixed sidelights; a reflector for each side light, and remotely controlled meansfor each reflector to move the latter into position intercepting the redli ht and adapted to reflect the rays thru the ens from a side light.

9. In a railway signal system the method of alternately projecting aplurality of distinctive lights thru a common lens which consists inshielding the li ht from one fixed source and reflectin the light fromanother fixed source then s ielding the light from the last mentionedsource and permitting the light from the first mentioned source to passthru the lens. Y

-10. In a railway signal system the method of alternately projecting aplurality of distinctive lights from fixed sources thru a common lens,one light of which is red, which consists in normally permitting the redlight to pass thru the lens, then lnterposing a shield between the lensand red light and reflecting another light thru the lens, then removingthe shield.

11. In a railway signal system the method of alternately projecting aplurality of distinctive lights into a common field which consists inshielding the light from one fixed source and reflecting the li ht fromanother fixed source into said fiel then shielding the light of the lastmentioned source from said field and dpermitting the light from thefirst mentione source to pass into said field.

In testimony whereof I hereunto subscribed my name.

' DANIEL J. McCAR'IHY.

